Paul Banas
Origins of Halloween
To safeguard by themselves, the Celts built bonfires the place they sacrificed crops and animals to the gods. The men and women dressed in costumes and believed that they could inform fortunes on October 31st, or Samhain.
Afterwards the Catholic church declared All Saints Day and All Souls Day about the exact same time. This is extensively considered to be an attempt to substitute a pagan holiday with a Christian an individual. The bad would go from doorway to doorway getting food in return for prayers for the dead.
As the a long time went on, other traditions became attached to Halloween. While individuals had carved lanterns out of a assortment of vegetables for a prolonged time, a frightening tale about Stingy Jack became the purpose that Jack-O-Lanterns ended up affiliated with Halloween.
Now Halloween is the 2nd most business holiday in the U.S. We expend capital on costumes, fog devices and candy. In metropolitan areas across America, you’ll come across overall retailers that open up just for the two months prior to Halloween.
Are you knowledgeable of the legitimate origin of Halloween? There was a time when I was totally uniformed about the connection this holiday getaway has with occult practices. I assumed it was just a exciting getaway and eagerly participated in a Haunted Household as a fundraiser for my church until eventually mastering about the origins of Halloween.
Halloween began properly just before Christ’s birth as a three day celebration of the dead by the druids in ancient regions of England and Ireland. It is recorded in historical past as the eve of samhain, which marked the conclude of the Celtic calendar 12 months.
For the duration of this festival, divination and sooth-saying had been practiced. Druids dressed as witches, goblins, and fairies were documented to go during the countryside harassing men and women for contributions of foods. This is the foundation for our latest trick-or-deal with rituals. Satanic worship and witchcraft, this includes black cats, have been all affiliated with this time which sounds a lot like our recent Halloween traditions.
The present-day Halloween practice of dressing little ones in masks and costumes and sending them out into the neighborhoods for “food” closely mimics people harassing behaviors by the early druids. Even the jack-o-lantern got its starting from turnips carved as death masks carried by the druids during this time.
These traditions have turn into a element of American household lifestyle as basic and playful fun. The real origin of this pleasurable paints a much different picture. The query continues to be: is this a apply that our children ought to be engaging in when it was born out of these “dark” beginnings?
Is it just basic exciting or is there more going on powering the scenes?
Halloween is an individual of the most ancient celebrations, its origins getting discovered thousand of several years in the past. The celebration we now know as Halloween has regarded a whole lot of influences from unique peoples. In the Roman Empire, it was acknowledged as Pomona’s Day, the Celts understood it as Samhain and the Christians understood it as All Saints’ Day or as All Hallows’ Day.
Here are a number of items on the Celtic origins of this holiday getaway.
A brief history individuals modern Halloween begins with a traditional Celtic holiday called Samhain (pronounced sow-en). The Celts lived in present-day Ireland and England dating to about the 5th Century BC. Other story will amaze you see it at this website.
Halloween, though undoubtedly an occasion for fun, is also a time when accidents could occur. When even adults, let alone children, are excited, they tend to be less careful and allow mistakes to happen.
Simple common sense ideas could prevent your child or even yourself from being hurt or injured and avert a tragedy. Here’s a list of Halloween Safety Tips recommended by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
BEFORE HALLOWEEN:
• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
• Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
• This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.
• Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
• Review with your children the principle of “Stop-Drop-Roll,” should their clothes catch fire.
• Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
• Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
• Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
• Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an Adult or Office Party.
FUN ALTERNATIVES:
• Find a special event or start one in your own neighborhood.
• Community Centers, Shopping Malls and Houses of Worship may have organized festivities.
• Share the fun by arranging a visit to a Retirement Home or Senior Center.
• Create an alliance with College Fraternities, Sororities or Service Clubs for children’s face painting or a carnival.
BEFORE NIGHTFALL ON HALLOWEEN:
• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.
• While children can help with the fun of designing a Jack O’ Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
• Always keep Jack O’ Lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.
• Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.
• Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
• Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.
• Along with flashlights for all, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls.
• Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
• Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
• Adult partygoers should establish and reward a designated driver.
WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:
• A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• Remind Trick-or-Treaters:
• By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.
• Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
• Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
• Always walk. Never run across a street.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).
• Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will.
• Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
• No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.
• Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
• Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.
Halloween for Kids and Dads
Halloween’s just around the corner. And while your kids are all set to have a blast, they will appreciate your effort and participation in making it a memorable day for them. Of course, some activities are traditionally dad’s domain. A fun excursion for any family is an annual trip to pick out a pumpkin, though sometimes, just picking one up at the grocery store is a good plan if you only have time to do one thing. For a tongue-in-cheek, but accurate primer on carving, go to carving your jack o’ lantern.
For patterns and carving tips, check out jack-o-lantern.com, which has downloadable PDF pattern for cutting out unique pumpkins.
While commercial costumes are always an option, it’s not difficult to create spooky costumes for your kids when they go ‘Trick or Treating.’ Helping them put together costumes from material readily available at home will be a fun exercise in creativity for them that will also save you a few good dollars. Here are some amazingly simple Halloween costume ideas that you could use or innovate upon.
When it comes to dads and their kids, often the simplest activities give the most joy. Curve a pumpkin together during Halloween is a fun activity that stimulates kids’ creative faculties. Find more about Halloween safety tips on Halloween festival.
Hanging fake spider webs and creating your own lanterns is one way to decorate your house during Halloween. If you want to make something bigger or more life like, why not add a mummy?
To make one, you don’t have to buy a mannequin or an inflatable. You will need though a lot of newspaper since this will help make up the entire body.
When all the parts are ready, hold everything together using some tape then begin wrapping the mummy using bandages. The best ones to use are those used in the hospital. Since this is too expensive, you will have to substitute this with toilet paper instead. It is best to use the plain kind since people will probably laugh if they noticed that it has a flowery design.
Now that your mummy is ready, put this where there is a lot of traffic like beside the front door to your house or in the dining room.
If you want to scare people, put this in places where they don’t expect like the bathtub or the closet. If people ask where the toilet is, just give them the directions. The same goes if people come in and want to hang their coat then just wait until you hear a loud scream.
Another way of making a mummy will require adult size clothes for a large mummy and child size clothes for a small one. When you have it, lay these on the floor and start stuffing it using newspaper. If you notice, the end result will make your mummy look like a scarecrow.
For the hands of the mummy, get a pair of gloves then attach this to the arm then wrap this up using toilet paper or gauze. If you can spare an old white bed sheet which you can cut into strips, even better.
As for the head, try inflating a balloon or a gallon sized milk jug then put this near the collar of the shirt. Continue wrapping until you are also able to cover the mummy’s face. If you want to put some eyes, use black construction paper then glue this on the face.
While most mummies lie still, you can make your mummy different by letting it sit upright on a chair. One suggestion will be put the chair beside the table where the candies are.
Your life sized mummy will look great wherever you decide to put it. If the tissue, gauze or strips should come off just patch it up as fast as you can.
Although most mummies are color white, you can give it an aged appearance by using some spray paint. The two ideal colors to use for this are translucent beige and brown which you can easily buy from the craft store.
When Halloween is all over, take one last look at the mummy and then take it apart. Some of the stuff you use can be recycled for next year while the rest has to be thrown in the trash.
Now that you know how to make a life sized mummy, you can also use the toilet paper and gauze to create your own Halloween costume. If the two are identical, some people will think that they are talking to you when actually they are talking to a dummy.
A Halloween lantern adds a nice touch to your garden. What is even better is that it is easy to make and the materials you need are very affordable.
To make a lantern, you will need a pair of metal scissors or rotary cutter, paint, light, a black marker, wood and some empty paint canisters.
Before you make holes on the canisters, draw a witch’s face so this can serve as a guide when you cut this using the rotary cutter.
When you are finished paint this using whatever you color you like. Since it is Halloween you better use black, orange or red. Once it dries, nail the top portion with a long piece of wood so you can place this in the ground. The last thing you have to do now is put a bulb inside so people will be able to see it at night. If you don’t want to put this on a stake, you can just line up a few of these together.
Since lanterns are usually hung, you can also suspend this in mid air by using some string and hanging this to the ceiling.
If you don’t want to use an empty can of paint, you can use a pumpkin or a watermelon instead. Since the project is going to be messy, make sure you are wearing an apron.
With a sharp knife, cut into the fruit and clean it out. You don’t have to throw the contents away since you can use it to make a salad or for some other recipe so just set this aside.
When you are done, cut a hole for the eyes, nose and mouth. Now clean up your work area and finish it off by placing a candle on the center. Now light it and place this outside your house or on the dinner table.
Since fruits like a watermelon or pumpkin rots easily, it is best to make it at least the night before Halloween.
Another Halloween lantern you can make is out of paper mache. You will need a balloon for this and once you get it, inflate it to correct size. To create the paper mache paste, mix water, flour and craft glue together.
When it is ready, dip newspaper strips into the mache and glue this all around the balloon. Let it dry overnight and then pop the balloon. You will notice that the paper mache will pull away from the balloon so it will still resemble the original shape of the balloon.
To make the lantern stand on its own, crush the bottom portion a bit. With a pencil, mark the area where the nose, eyes and mouth will be. Cut these out using a craft knife or a pair of scissors. The last thing to do now will be to color it so take out that spray can and use it.
When it’s dried, put a battery operated light bulb or one that has to be plugged in the center. Never use a candle as this could burnt the lantern.
Making a Halloween lantern is easy and you can make one on your own. You just need the materials and then follow the instructions. Once you get the hang of things, you can make modifications so each one produced is unique.
Focalprice: Halloween Supplies: 12% OFF ALL with Coupon: "FES15OFF" – Expires October 1st. 2011
Halloween 2011 Extra 15% OFF any order of $150+ with Code: "15More" or 5% off any order of $50+ with Code: "5More" Expires Oct 31st.
HalloweenMart – world's largest inventory of Halloween costumes for everyone! Get $10 off any orders over $75! Use Code: "10OFF"
Take 10% Off Your Order of $50 or More at PetSmart! Use Code: "AFFOCT" at Checkout. Offer Expires 10.31
ChildBoys Costumes
Get Scary Contact Lenses for this Halloween with 10% off code: "DRM26SCMTRU"
Halloween Gifts
Halloween Warehouse
PierreSilber offer: $4.75 Domestic Ground Shipping until October 10, 2010
Pretty Party Place
So you can Trick or Treating More now for Less!